Goldendale Police; Vehicle Pursuit and Arrest

Goldendale, Washington February 16, 2020
On 02-15-2020, at about 11:10pm, Officer Stelljes of the Goldendale Police Department was on patrol when he attempted to make a traffic stop on a 2011 Volkswagen Jetta for an equipment violation. Officer Stelljes attempted to make the traffic stop on Sentinel Street but the vehicle continued and did not stop.

Officer Stelljes began to pursue the vehicle with all his emergency lights and siren on and was in a fully marked patrol vehicle. The vehicle continued onto Railroad Ave and then onto South Klickitat Street without stopping. Goldendale Officer Mike Kenny joined into the pursuit. The vehicle continued and did not stop at stop signs and continued onto Darland. The vehicle was swerving, not stopping at stop signs and had erratic speeds. The pursuit ended on West Collins and Washington Street with the two males in the vehicle bailing out of the vehicle and took off running. Officer Stelljes and Officer Kenny got into a foot pursuit and were able to arrest Adam Bronson and Christopher Wirshup about a block away. Adam Bronson and Christopher Wirshup were found to have DOC arrest warrants.

Goldendale K9 Officer Berkshire, was called to the scene to use his narcotic K9, Harley. The K9 did a positive alert to the trunk of the Volkswagen Jetta which indicates the odor of an illegal narcotic inside the vehicle.

A search warrant was conducted on the vehicle and illegal drugs were located.

The Goldendale Police will be continuing the investigation and will be submitting charges to the Klickitat County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office once the investigation is complete. Chief Bartkowski stated that he is very happy with the proactive patrols the officers have been doing during the evening hours.

If you have any questions, please contact Chief Bartkowski at the Goldendale Police Department.